http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/
en-usMerrill Matthews - Right DirectionsMerrill Matthews' stories. Right Directions: I explore public policy and politics and expose foolish ideas.Copyright 2016 Forbes LLChttp://0.gravatar.com/avatar/63dd934a9d6f34c31d118bd390e825c9?s=400&#038;d=mm&#038;r=ghttp://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/2016/12/01/now-we-know-what-the-republican-obamacare-replacement-plan-will-look-like/
Now We Know What The Republican Obamacare Replacement Plan Will Look LikeAs head of HHS, Dr. Tom price will likely use his own Obamacare replacement bill as the starting point for negotiations.Merrill Matthews, ContributorMerrill Matthews, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/58407d4164aaf96759a0896eThu, 1 Dec 2016 15:22:00 -05002016-12-01T15:22:00-05:00As head of HHS, Dr. Tom price will likely use his own Obamacare replacement bill as the starting point for negotiations.http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/2016/11/21/the-preexisting-condition-provision-must-end-for-a-republican-replacement-plan-to-work/
The Preexisting Condition Provision Must End For A Republican Replacement Plan To WorkMany on the left and the right claim that we keep Obamacare's preexisting provision. Not if we want the reformed system to be workable and affordable.Merrill Matthews, ContributorMerrill Matthews, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/5833504164aaf93de4c2dfa9Mon, 21 Nov 2016 17:07:00 -05002016-11-21T17:07:00-05:00Many on the left and the right claim that we keep Obamacare's preexisting provision. Not if we want the reformed system to be workable and affordable.http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/2016/10/31/factchecking-obamas-recent-bogus-obamacare-claims/
Factchecking Obama's Recent Bogus Obamacare ClaimsPresident Obama is still defending Obamacare, but the claims he is making are bogus.Merrill Matthews, ContributorMerrill Matthews, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/58166c0864aaf93de4c26cffMon, 31 Oct 2016 10:20:00 -04002016-10-31T10:20:00-04:00President Obama is still defending Obamacare, but the claims he is making are bogus.http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/2016/09/01/my-wife-couldnt-keep-her-health-coverage-3-times-now-she-cant-keep-her-doctor-either/
My Wife Couldn't Keep Her Health Coverage (3 Times), Now She Can't Keep Her Doctor EitherPresident Obama won Politifact's "Lie of the Year" for his promise that you could keep your health policy; tell that to my wife, who keeps getting her policies canceled.Merrill Matthews, ContributorMerrill Matthews, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/57c7ab3b64aaf914f0521802Thu, 1 Sep 2016 10:38:00 -04002016-09-01T10:38:00-04:00President Obama won Politifact's "Lie of the Year" for his promise that you could keep your health policy; tell that to my wife, who keeps getting her policies canceled.http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/2016/08/22/game-over-the-stock-market-delivers-a-big-fat-no-to-obamacare-exchanges/
Game Over: The Stock Market Delivers A Big Fat No To Obamacare ExchangesStock prices are telling the major health insurers to get out of Obamacare, and finally they may be listening.Merrill Matthews, ContributorMerrill Matthews, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/57ba23cc64aaf97fcd6f753bMon, 22 Aug 2016 10:39:00 -04002016-08-22T10:39:00-04:00Stock prices are telling the major health insurers to get out of Obamacare, and finally they may be listening.http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/2016/08/08/the-justice-department-fights-health-insurers-trying-to-survive-the-obamacare-wasteland/
The Justice Department Fights Health Insurers Trying To Survive The Obamacare WastelandFour major health insurers want to merge in order to survive the Obamacare wasteland, but the Obama administration is fighting those mergers in the name of competition, even though its opposition will likely mean less competition.Merrill Matthews, ContributorMerrill Matthews, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/57a793d964aaf96aaadbf1b9Mon, 8 Aug 2016 14:35:00 -04002016-08-08T14:35:00-04:00Four major health insurers want to merge in order to survive the Obamacare wasteland, but the Obama administration is fighting those mergers in the name of competition, even though its opposition will likely mean less competition.http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/2016/03/10/not-much-there-in-trumpcare/
Not Much There In TrumpcareDonald Trump's healthcare plan is about as shallow and vague as all of his policy proposals.Merrill Matthews, ContributorMerrill Matthews, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/56e1c7b9e4b063cb9d01dfdaThu, 10 Mar 2016 14:41:00 -05002016-03-10T14:41:00-05:00Donald Trump's healthcare plan is about as shallow and vague as all of his policy proposals.http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/2016/02/01/a-republican-health-care-reform-that-may-not-work/
A Republican Healthcare Reform That May Not WorkAlmost all Republicans back the notion of allowing people to buy health insurance across state lines, but would it actually work?Merrill Matthews, ContributorMerrill Matthews, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/56aee9ede4b09b86923e365eMon, 1 Feb 2016 10:29:00 -05002016-02-01T10:29:00-05:00Almost all Republicans back the notion of allowing people to buy health insurance across state lines, but would it actually work?http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/2015/11/30/will-the-government-force-health-insurers-to-sell-in-obamacare-exchanges/
Will The Government Force Health Insurers To Sell In Obamacare Exchanges?If Democrats were in charge of Washington they would take steps to force health insurers to stay in Obamacare.Merrill Matthews, ContributorMerrill Matthews, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/565a2f90e4b0875cdd53c0b4Mon, 30 Nov 2015 08:00:00 -05002015-11-30T08:00:00-05:00If Democrats were in charge of Washington they would take steps to force health insurers to stay in Obamacare.http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/2015/11/05/the-medicare-part-d-drug-program-is-one-of-governments-most-efficient/
The Medicare Part D Drug Program Is One Of Government's Most EfficientMedicare Part D is the best working and least fraud-ridden federal health insurance program, so why do Democrats want to change it?Merrill Matthews, ContributorMerrill Matthews, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/563a64cbe4b0375e492cd9a9Thu, 5 Nov 2015 11:59:00 -05002015-11-05T11:59:00-05:00Medicare Part D is the best working and least fraud-ridden federal health insurance program, so why do Democrats want to change it?http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/2015/10/14/a-viable-affordable-alternative-to-obamacare/
A Viable, Affordable Alternative To ObamacarePeople would like an affordable alternative to Obamacare, and there is one—though it isn't for everyone.Merrill Matthews, ContributorMerrill Matthews, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/561ea9afe4b0375e492c68a9Wed, 14 Oct 2015 15:54:00 -04002015-10-14T15:54:00-04:00People would like an affordable alternative to Obamacare, and there is one—though it isn't for everyone.http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/2015/09/22/who-will-protect-us-from-an-agency-created-to-protect-us/
Who Will Protect Us From An Agency Created To Protect Us?The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was created to protect us from out-of-control financial organizations, but the CFPB itself out of control with no way to reign it in.Merrill Matthews, ContributorMerrill Matthews, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/560186bde4b08c2312f2e6c4Tue, 22 Sep 2015 13:07:00 -04002015-09-22T13:07:00-04:00The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was created to protect us from out-of-control financial organizations, but the CFPB itself out of control with no way to reign it in.http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/2015/09/11/could-the-iran-deal-be-to-2016-what-obamacare-was-to-2010/
Could The Iran Deal Be To 2016 What Obamacare Was To 2010?Obama takes the same approach in pushing through the Iran nuclear deal as he did Obamacare, which could cost Democrats in the 2016 election.Merrill Matthews, ContributorMerrill Matthews, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/55f30432e4b08c2312f2b1bbFri, 11 Sep 2015 13:02:00 -04002015-09-11T13:02:00-04:00Obama takes the same approach in pushing through the Iran nuclear deal as he did Obamacare, which could cost Democrats in the 2016 election.http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/2015/08/12/busted-the-liberal-claim-youre-too-stupid-to-make-health-care-decisions/
Busted: The Liberal Claim You're Too Stupid To Make Health Care DecisionsNew evidence shows liberals are wrong: patients can make good, value-conscious health care choices.Merrill Matthews, ContributorMerrill Matthews, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/55cb96a0e4b0dee06820acf0Wed, 12 Aug 2015 15:37:00 -04002015-08-12T15:37:00-04:00New evidence shows liberals are wrong: patients can make good, value-conscious health care choices.http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/2015/08/03/my-wifes-losing-her-obamacare-coverage-because-the-insurer-lost-400-million/
My Wife's Losing Her Obamacare Coverage Because The Insurer Lost $400 MillionFirst, my wife's premiums increased significantly last year; now her health insurer is canceling the policy because that plan still lost $400 million.Merrill Matthews, ContributorMerrill Matthews, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/55bfd26ee4b0dee068207d8fMon, 3 Aug 2015 17:11:00 -04002015-08-03T17:11:00-04:00First, my wife's premiums increased significantly last year; now her health insurer is canceling the policy because that plan still lost $400 million.http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/2015/07/17/tavenner-is-the-perfect-pick-for-ahip-as-big-insurers-become-public-utilities/
Tavenner Is The Perfect Pick For AHIP As Big Insurers Become Public UtilitiesHealth insurers have morphed from a free market-leaning industry to a supplicant to the government, which makes Mary Tavenner a good choice to run the trade association.Merrill Matthews, ContributorMerrill Matthews, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/55a966f6e4b0dee068202207Fri, 17 Jul 2015 16:44:00 -04002015-07-17T16:44:00-04:00Health insurers have morphed from a free market-leaning industry to a supplicant to the government, which makes Mary Tavenner a good choice to run the trade association.http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/2015/06/16/will-a-decision-for-king-bring-health-care-stocks-crashing-down/
Will A Decision For King Bring Health Care Stocks Crashing Down?Health care stocks have exploded since passage of the Affordable Care Act, in part because of a flood of federal money. Would a decision for King pop that bubble?Merrill Matthews, ContributorMerrill Matthews, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/557fa806e4b01f0c1d938267Tue, 16 Jun 2015 08:00:00 -04002015-06-16T08:00:00-04:00Health care stocks have exploded since passage of the Affordable Care Act, in part because of a flood of federal money. Would a decision for King pop that bubble?http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/2015/05/31/why-republicans-should-give-obama-trade-promotion-authority/
Why Republicans Should Give Obama Trade Promotion AuthorityA number of Republicans don't trust Obama and don't want to give him trade promotion authority; but there are several reasons why they should bite the bullet and pass TPA.Merrill Matthews, ContributorMerrill Matthews, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/556a87aee4b01f0c1d932953Sun, 31 May 2015 15:38:00 -04002015-05-31T15:38:00-04:00A number of Republicans don't trust Obama and don't want to give him trade promotion authority; but there are several reasons why they should bite the bullet and pass TPA.http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/2015/04/29/privatizing-social-securitys-disability-program-would-help-the-disabled/
Privatizing Social Security's Disability Program Would Help The DisabledIt's time for a bold plan to fix Social Security's disability insurance coverage by turning it over to the private sector.Merrill Matthews, ContributorMerrill Matthews, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/553ee9bfe4b0521fc56579feWed, 29 Apr 2015 08:00:00 -04002015-04-29T08:00:00-04:00It's time for a bold plan to fix Social Security's disability insurance coverage by turning it over to the private sector.http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/2015/04/11/the-high-cost-of-inventing-new-drugs-and-of-not-inventing-them/
The High Cost Of Inventing New Drugs -- And Of Not Inventing ThemYes, creating new drugs is expensive, but so is not creating them. This alternative way of calculating the costs churns out a similar finding to the standard procedure.Merrill Matthews, ContributorMerrill Matthews, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/5527fe2ce4b0521fc565224cSat, 11 Apr 2015 08:00:00 -04002015-04-11T08:00:00-04:00Yes, creating new drugs is expensive, but so is not creating them. This alternative way of calculating the costs churns out a similar finding to the standard procedure.http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/2015/03/26/medicares-becoming-a-means-tested-welfare-program-and-that-could-be-a-good-thing/
Medicare's Becoming A Means-Tested Welfare Program, And That Could Be A Good ThingCongress increasingly is forcing high-income seniors to pay more for their Medicare benefits, which could create some senior resentment—and open the door for bold Medicare reform.Merrill Matthews, ContributorMerrill Matthews, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/551334d1e4b058f5b4336e2eThu, 26 Mar 2015 11:21:00 -04002015-03-26T11:21:00-04:00Congress increasingly is forcing high-income seniors to pay more for their Medicare benefits, which could create some senior resentment—and open the door for bold Medicare reform.http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/2015/02/23/democratic-panic-ensues-as-obamacare-flaws-could-create-millions-of-republican-voters/
Democratic Panic Ensues As Obamacare Flaws Could Create Millions Of Republican VotersDemocrats face a voter backlash over Obamacare's glitches and penalties, putting them in full damage control.Merrill Matthews, ContributorMerrill Matthews, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/54eb57a0e4b082da0cd81041Mon, 23 Feb 2015 12:03:00 -05002015-02-23T12:03:00-05:00Democrats face a voter backlash over Obamacare's glitches and penalties, putting them in full damage control.http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/2015/02/13/busted-obamacare-co-ops-are-underwater-and-sinking-fast/
Busted: Obamacare Co-Ops Are Underwater And Sinking FastDemocrats inserted "co-ops" into Obamacare to prove that consumer-run nonprofit organizations could do a better job of providing affordable health insurance than private health insurers—and they've failed miserably.Merrill Matthews, ContributorMerrill Matthews, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/54de1e99e4b07e9673fcfa04Fri, 13 Feb 2015 13:54:00 -05002015-02-13T13:54:00-05:00Democrats inserted "co-ops" into Obamacare to prove that consumer-run nonprofit organizations could do a better job of providing affordable health insurance than private health insurers—and they've failed miserably.http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/2015/01/28/the-epa-hopes-to-kill-the-texas-jobs-machine/
The EPA Hopes To Kill The Texas Jobs MachineThe Texas economy has been a jobs-creating machine, and the Environmental Protection Agency can't let that go on unpunished.Merrill Matthews, ContributorMerrill Matthews, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/54c96c08e4b041b666b346abWed, 28 Jan 2015 18:38:00 -05002015-01-28T18:38:00-05:00The Texas economy has been a jobs-creating machine, and the Environmental Protection Agency can't let that go on unpunished.http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/2015/01/23/obama-just-gave-companies-another-reason-not-to-hire-low-income-workers/
Obama Just Gave Companies Another Reason Not To Hire Low-Income WorkersEven as President Obama complains that the middle class has lost ground under his administration, his cost-increasing proposals would make it even harder for employers to hire lower-income workers.Merrill Matthews, ContributorMerrill Matthews, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/54c1da9ae4b041b666b32debFri, 23 Jan 2015 10:18:00 -05002015-01-23T10:18:00-05:00Even as President Obama complains that the middle class has lost ground under his administration, his cost-increasing proposals would make it even harder for employers to hire lower-income workers.http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/2015/01/05/doctors-face-a-huge-medicare-and-medicaid-pay-cut-in-2015/
Doctors Face A Huge Medicare And Medicaid Pay Cut In 2015If scheduled 2015 Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement cuts remain in place, seniors and the poor will have an even harding time finding a doctor who will treat them.Merrill Matthews, ContributorMerrill Matthews, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/54aa2329e4b041b666b2dddbMon, 5 Jan 2015 09:50:00 -05002015-01-05T09:50:00-05:00If scheduled 2015 Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement cuts remain in place, seniors and the poor will have an even harding time finding a doctor who will treat them.http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/2014/12/11/obama-and-his-policies-have-been-a-boon-to-temporary-workers/
Obama And His Policies Have Been A Boon To Temporary WorkersThere has been a lot of discussion about how Obamacare and other liberal policies are shifting people from full-time to part-time work; but the real trend is toward more temporary services, which may be even less secure than part-time work.Merrill Matthews, ContributorMerrill Matthews, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/5489ded6e4b0f8beaaae10e2Thu, 11 Dec 2014 14:32:00 -05002014-12-11T14:32:00-05:00There has been a lot of discussion about how Obamacare and other liberal policies are shifting people from full-time to part-time work; but the real trend is toward more temporary services, which may be even less secure than part-time work.http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/2014/11/21/can-we-believe-officials-claiming-they-made-a-mistake-inflating-obamacare-coverage/
Can We Believe Officials Claiming They Made A Mistake Inflating Obamacare Coverage?Obama administration officials have been caught intentionally fudging numbers so often you can't believe them when they claim to have made a mistake.Merrill Matthews, ContributorMerrill Matthews, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/546fb1f9e4b0f8beaaadc51bFri, 21 Nov 2014 17:12:00 -05002014-11-21T17:12:00-05:00Obama administration officials have been caught intentionally fudging numbers so often you can't believe them when they claim to have made a mistake.http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/2014/10/30/new-york-times-14-is-good-enough-to-call-obamacare-a-success/
NYT: 14% Is Good Enough To Call Obamacare A SuccessThe New York Times claims that the Affordable Care Act has been a success, but neither the paper's defense of its claim nor the facts agree.Merrill Matthews, ContributorMerrill Matthews, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/545260dde4b0e125ae82dd49Thu, 30 Oct 2014 12:36:00 -04002014-10-30T12:36:00-04:00The New York Times claims that the Affordable Care Act has been a success, but neither the paper's defense of its claim nor the facts agree.http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/2014/10/10/remember-when-obamacare-would-stop-health-insurers-from-canceling-policies/
Remember When Obamacare Would Stop Health Insurers From Canceling Policies?Most people don't realize that President Obama promised, months before Obamacare passed, that his law would prohibit health insurers from canceling people's policies.Merrill Matthews, ContributorMerrill Matthews, Contributorhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/54382a0ae4b0563af2c4bb15Fri, 10 Oct 2014 15:48:00 -04002014-10-10T15:48:00-04:00Most people don't realize that President Obama promised, months before Obamacare passed, that his law would prohibit health insurers from canceling people's policies.